Have Love Will Travel
Tom Petty / The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So good lookin', so insecure
And now you say you can't remember
When the line you drew began to blur
Yeah, when all of this is over
Should I lose you in the smoke
I want you to know you were the one
Baby, may my love travel with you always
Maggie's still trying to rope a tornado
Joe's in the backyard trying to keep things simple
And the lonely DJ's digging a ditch
Trying to keep the flames from the temple
Oh if perhaps I lose you
In the smoke down the road
I want you to know you were the one
And may my love travel with you everywhere
Yeah, may my love travel with you always
How about a cheer for all those bad girls
And all those boys that play that rock 'n' roll
They love it like you love Jesus
It does the same thing to their souls
Yeah, when all of this is over
Should I lose you in the smoke
I want you to know
You were the one
And may my love travel with you everywhere
Yeah may my love travel with you always
Baby may my love travel, with you everywhere
Yeah may my love travel, with you always
The lyrics of 'Have Love Will Travel' convey a message of unconditional love that transcends all barriers of time and space. The song seems to be addressing a love interest of Petty, who is depicted as an insecure person, constantly struggling to find her identity. The lines "You never had a chance, did you, babe? / So good lookin', so insecure" highlights that the person had the potential to be great, but her insecurities held her back.
Despite her lack of self-assurance, Petty asserts that the person was the defining factor in his life, and should they ever part, they will remain eternally bound by the spiritual force of love. The lines "And now you say you can't remember / When the line you drew began to blur" capture the idea that the person struggled to distinguish between right and wrong, and this made her lose her way.
The song has a somber tone throughout, but ultimately ends with a sentiment of hope and perseverance. It emphasizes that love is the ultimate weapon in a cruel and indifferent world, and despite all the hardships and pain, it is worth holding onto. In essence, 'Have Love Will Travel' is a love song, but not just between two people- it is a love song dedicated to the idea of love itself.
Line by Line Meaning
You never had a chance, did you, babe
You were always good-looking and attractive, but your self-doubt never allowed you to find your true potential.
So good lookin', so insecure
Your stunning looks and charm never compensated for the deep-rooted insecurity you felt about yourself.
And now you say you can't remember
You claim to have no recollection of when you lost sight of the things that mattered most to you in life.
When the line you drew began to blur
You can't recall the moment when you let go of your values and principles, leading you to a never-ending spiral of confusion.
Yeah, when all of this is over
At some point in the future, when everything has settled down, and you've moved on, gained some peace and clarity in life.
Should I lose you in the smoke
If our separation is inevitable, and you disappear from my life in a blur like smoke, leaving behind only memories.
I want you to know you were the one
I want you to know that you stood out to me from everyone else, and you remained dear to me despite everything.
And may my love travel with you everywhere
I want my love to remain with you always, even if we are no longer together.
Baby, may my love travel with you always
My love for you is eternal and unconditional, and I hope it stays with you forever.
Maggie's still trying to rope a tornado
Maggie is still trying to handle something that she can't control or understand, like trying to lasso a tornado.
Joe's in the backyard trying to keep things simple
Joe is trying to make sense of a complicated situation and is doing his best to keep things simple and manageable.
And the lonely DJ's digging a ditch
The DJ is trying to escape the loneliness by engaging himself in a repetitive and mundane task that keeps him distracted from his sorrow.
Trying to keep the flames from the temple
The DJ is trying to stop his emotional unrest from spreading and causing greater damage to his being.
Oh if perhaps I lose you
If by any chance I lose you from my life?
In the smoke down the road
As you fade away from my life like a smoky mirage on the road.
I want you to know you were the one
I want you to know how much you meant to me and that you'll always have a special place in my heart.
How about a cheer for all those bad girls
Cheers to all those women who don't fit the typical social norms and choose to make their path regardless of what others say.
And all those boys that play that rock 'n' roll
Applause to all those boys who make music that shakes your soul and gives you the courage to face life's challenges.
They love it like you love Jesus
Just like how you have faith in Jesus, they have faith in their music that connects them to the unknown, defines their journey, and provides them with hope in life.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Thomas Earl Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind